Rodel Mayol in Good Shape For The Sanchez Title Shot

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former WBC light flyweight champion Rodel Mayol is "in good shape" or what may well be his final shot at a world title when he faces IBF super flyweight champion Juan Carlos Sanchez in Sinaloa, Mexico on September 22 (23 in Manila).

MP Promotions Michael Koncz who handles Mayol told the Manila Standard that Mayol was "in good shape and in high spirits" and that his training under Nonoy Neri "went very well."

Mayol had a stint in Cuba before returning to Los Angeles to wind down his preparation at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach.

Koncz who is "Fighter of the Decade" Manny Pacquiao is currently in New York on the second leg of the promotional tour for the fourth fight against Juan Manuel Marquez said he would return to Los Angeles with Pacquiao and then fly to Mexico on Saturday to be at ringside for Mayol's title fight.

Pacquiao's adviser said Mayol who is 31 is getting on in years and this is possibly his last chance to win a world title but was confident that the former world champion is ready.

Mayol who has a record of 31-5-2 with 22 knockouts has had five successive wins since losing to Omar Nino Romero with his ten round smashing victory over former WBO flyweight champion Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda on May 23, 2012 being the most impressive.

Sanchez is ten years younger than Mayol at 21 and has a record of 14-1-1 with 7 knockouts. He won the IBF 115 pound title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Rodrigo Guerrero on February 11 this year and successfully defended the crown with another twelve round unanimous decision over Juan Alberto Rosas on May 19 after dropping Rosas in the opening round

A ten round bout between Mexican warrior Jorge Arce who has announced he plans to face the winner between WBO/IBF champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and Japan’s WBC super champion Toshiaki Nishioka when they clash for the WBC Diamond Belt on October 13 will be the main event in the hometown of both Arce and Sanchez.

But to get that title shot Arce needs to overcome Panama’s Mauricio Martinez, the former WBO Latino bantamweight champion, in a ten round bout .

The 33 year old Arce who relinquished the WBO super bantamweight title enabling Donaire to win the 122 pound belt from Wilfredp Vazquez Jr. takes on the 37 year old southpaw Martinez who is coming off a 3rd round knockout of Erick Aguilera last December 2, 2011.

Arce’s last fight against Jesus Rojas ended in a no decision after Arce who had dropped Rojas in the first round during a furious exchange was felled by a low blow in the second round and was unable to continue.

Martinez won the WBO Latino bantamweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Franklin Varela on May 20, 2006 before losing by a 9th round TKO to former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa on October 21, 2006.

LOL. but seriously i just dont know what shape is considered as good shape for this chap. pretty much gasses after 4 or 5 rounds so maybe this translates to having an extra round or two of being good to…